Concerning Vanilla, although the plant is found in Zanzibar,
I consider its cultivation more suitable to Pemba Island.
As to the prospects of Indiarubber cultivation, although
the specimens of South American rubber trees introduced by
Sir John Kirk at Mbweni have taken very kindly to their
new surroundings, the Ceara trees especially so, yet I do not
consider that this industry would prove remunerative in
Zanzibar, and for these reasons— First, that in order to obtain
remunerative returns, extensive areas must be planted ;
whilst the Ceara species (Manihot Glaziovii), which, from its
hardy nature and capability of thriving in stony barren
regions, might at first sight be considered most suitable
for cultivation in the less fertile lands on the eastern and
southern coasts of the island, would not answer, as the wild
pigs would prove too destructive to its cultivation by grubbing
up and eating the tubers, of which they are very fond. In
many districts of Southern India its cultivation had to be
given up for this reason alone.—Secondly, thè greater part of
the British Protectorate on the mainland is so eminently
adapted for its growth and cultivation, that in my. opinion
it has a more certain prospect of future development in that
region, with which Zanzibar could not compete with profit.